Internal-combustion engine.



W. G. CARTER.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25, 1912.

1,1 14,107, Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. O. CARTER.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR ,25, 1912.

1,1 14,107. Patented out. 20, 1914.

.3 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

/iaema W. G. CARTER.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. I

APPLICATION FILED APR.25, 1912.

1,1 14, 1 07. Patented 0612 1914.

3 SHEBTSSHEET S.

wimmuc. aim-2R, or sr. Louis,

JIISSOUEBI, ASiS IGIiTOB T CARTER CABBUBETER country; or s'r'. ,Loms, nssoum; aoonrom'rxon or mrssounr.

To alarms-m oan Be it known th-atT,*W1nmArr C. Camus, a citizen of the United States, residing at fitiljouis, .Missouri, have invented a certain diets for controlling the intake and exhaust of I is a fulhclear, ande new and useful Improvement in Internal- Combustion Engines of which the following iiactdescription, such as will enable'othelrs skilled in the. art to which it appertainstomake-anduse the same.

This. invention relates to internal combustion engines of the type in which reciprocating valves'are arranged inside of-thec'ylinthe gases to and from the cylinders. I

"Oneobject of myinvention is to provide a iour-cycleinternal combustion engine of the type referred to which is-so designed that the suction and pressureflin the. cylinders causesthe valves to" open so' as to permit'ithe coinloustihlemixture to enter-the Cylinders and the burnt gases to escape therefrom, thereby-,eflebftin a great saving in the power ecnsuined 'arrd consequently "producing ,an enginethat will develop more horse-power than one-in which the valves are opened by mechanical means.

2 Another object'is to provide a four-cycle 1 internal combustion engine having automatically opening valves that control the inlet and exhaust of the gases,'and'means propelled by the crank shaft of the engine I for governing the position'of said valves.

Another object is to provide afour-cycle internal? combustion wengine whose valve mechanism consists of reciprocating: valvesthat coiiperate With ports 'formed in ;the-

sides of the cylinders-and imperforate tons reciprocatingly mounted in the upper end of said cylinders for carrying said valves, anda shaft or shaftspro'vided with cams tha't control the pistons and thus govern'theposition ofthe valves, said cams beihg preferably inclosed and arranged insuch a manner that they thoroughly lubricated. I

Another object isto provide a four-cycle internal combustion engine in which each cylinder has associated therewith a ring shaped expansion means Valvethat coiiperates with aninl et 7 located in different horizontal planes inthe side of the cylinder, 3; carrier for said valve means having a yoke and anti-friction rolls,

can be kept and a cam shaft .provided withcams which are so designed that they will. always'remain fii'zrnnlnarpcomnus'mon Enema port and an exhaust port Patented ocaeo, 1914. eaaoae. 1

in engagementwith either the yoke or the rollers on carrier. And still another object is" to provide a four-cycle internal combustion engine. that embodies the characteristics and features above-mentioned and, which is so'designed that-it can be manufactured cheaply and can be taken apart easily for 'adjustment or repair, -.Fi gure 1 of the drawings is a vertical sectional view of twin'cylinders of an internal combustion engine'constructed in accordance with my; invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectiona'l view of 'one-of-the'cylinders taken onapproximately' the line 2-2 of Fig. 1'; Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view taken on approximately the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a reduced side elevational view of the engine; and Fig. 5 is a rear end elevational view'of the engine.

' I have herein shown my invention embodied in a four-cycle internal combustion engine having four cylinders which are cast 1 pairs but I wish it t'o be understood that it is lmmaterial, so far as my invention is concerned, Whether the cylinders are cast separately, en bloc, or in pairs, or whether the engine is provided With one or more cylinders.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, 1 designates the cylinders of the engine, 2 the .main pistons in said cylinders which are operatively' connected to the crank shaft 3, aud t designates the water-jackets of the cylinders.

6, said ports preferably consisting of horizontally disposed semi-circular-shaped slots formed in the wall of the cylinder and arranged in different horizontal planes, as shown in-brokeulines in Fig. 2, the inlet port 5 being located a trifle higher than the exhaust ten or middle of thel'inlet port 5 is a vertically disposed webv 5 whose function will be hereinafter described. 1

-,The valve mechanism of each cylinder preferably consists of a reciprocating piston A arranged in the upper end of the cylinder, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a valve B carried 'by said'piston forcontrolling the inlet and exhaust of the gases through the ports 5 and 6, and means for governing or controlling the position of the upper piston A. The

piston A is provided with an nnperforate Each cylinder is provided with- C an inlet port 5 'and an exhaust or outlet port P ort 6. At. approximately the cenlower end 7 which forms the top wall or upper side of the compression space of the cyl inder and with piston rings 8 or some other suitable packing devices that form a tight joint between said piston and the cylinder. In the embodiment of my invention herein shown each of the valves B consists of a split expansion ring which is integrally connected to the piston A that carries same by means of a senxi-circular-shaped web I), as shown clearly in Fig. 2; or, stated in another way, the valve B is formed by a depending ringshaped flangeon the lower end of the upper piston A which is separated from the bottom wall 7 of said piston at one point by means of a horizontally disposed semicircular-sha ed slot 1), as shown in Fig. 2, and also divi ed into two halves or sections by means of a diagonal slot or approximately vertically disposed slot N, as shown in Fig. 1,'thus forming resilient arms which press tightly against the inner surface of the cylinder. The piston A is arranged in such a manner that the diagonal slot 1) in the ringshaped expansion valve B is located directly opposite the vertical web 5* at the center of the intake port 5, as shown in Fig. 1. The intermediate portion of the valve B is preferably thicker than the end portions of said valve, as shown in rig. 3, so as to impart a certain degree of resiliency to the two end portions of the valve that cooperate with the intake port5, thus causing said end portions to press tightly against the cylinder and consequently holding the intermediate portion of the valve that cooperates with the exhaust port 6 in snug engagement with the inside of the cylinder. I prefer to make the upper piston A substantially hollow, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to form pockets for a pair of rollers 9 that are loosely mounted on a horizontally disposed shaft 10 that is journaled-in hearings in the upper piston A and also in a center bearing 11 on said piston which is arranged Between the rollers 9 and thus prevents them from moving longitudinally of the shaft 10, as shown in F i ,1. The suction and pressure in the .cylin er 1 causes the upper piston A to move downwardly and upwardly and thus carry the valve B into and out of operative position with relation to the intake and exhaust ports 5 and 6, respectively, and means is provided for limiting or controlling the movement of said iston so that the valve B will uncover the intake port 5 on the suction stroke, then remain at rest over the ports 5 and 6 on the compression and firing strokes, and thereafter uncover the exhaust port 6 on the scavenging stroke. Said piston-controlling means preferably consists of a cam shaft 12 provided with a pair of cams 13 thatcooperate with the rollers 9 on the upper piston A, and an intermediate cam 14 that cooperates with a yoke or cross-piece 15 connected to the upper piston A and extend ing transversely of same, as shown in Fi s. 1 and 2 said cams being preferably so de signed that they will have a rolling contact on the friction rolls 9 and on the under side of the yoke 15. The yoke or cross-piece 15 is herein shown as being detachably connected to the npper piston A by means of bolts 16, or other suitable fastening devices, and shims 17 are arranged between said piston and ,cross-piece, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to provide for wear and thus permit the crosspiece 15 to be adjusted accurately with relation to the cam 14 with which it cooperates.

If desired, a wear plate 18 can be arranged on the under side of the yoke or cross-piece 15 so as to p event the cross-piece from becoming worn by the cam 14. In practice, I prefer to use a wear plate that has a slight degree of resiliency and permanently connect said wear plate at one end to the piston or cross-piece, leaving'the opposite end of the wear plate free so that it can yield slightly in case the cam 14 becomes worn and thus take up any lost motion between said cam and cross-p1ecc,a stop or .in 19 on the cross-piece cooperati with a bifurcated portion on the wear p ate to pre vent the free end of the wear plate from shifting or moving with relatlon to the cam 14:. y a

A spark plug C, or some other suitable ignition device, is arranged in an opening in the side of the cylinder which preferably terminates at its inner end in proximity to the intake port 5 so as to ignite or firethe charge that is drawn into the cylinder on the suction or downward stroke of the main piston 2 of the engine. When the main piston 2 starts to move downwardly on its suction stroke the intake and exhaust ports are both closed by the valve B which has been mechanically moved into this position by the cams 13 that cooperate with the rollers 9 on the upper-piston A. On this stroke of the main piston 2 the suction that is produced in the cylinder causes the upper piston A to move downwardly far enough to carry the valve B out of operative position with relation to the intake port 5 but not out of operative position with relation to the exhaust port 6, and thus permit a charge to be drawn into the cylinder through the slot or open space b between the bottom of the upper piston A and the upper edge of the resilient or expansible portion of the valve B. The upper piston A. is thereafter moved upw'ardlv slightly by the intermediate cam 14 just far enough to cause the valve B to cover the intake port 5 and also remain in operative position with relation to the exhaust port 6, the upper piston A being held at rest in this position on the succeeding compression stroke and power or firing stroke of the main piston 2 by means of the cams 13. which have dwells or concentric portions that prevent the upper piston A from moving upwardly while the charge is being com-pressed, fired and expanded, and the intermediate cam 14 having a suitable dwell or concentric portion which merely rolls upon the yoke or-"cross-pieoe 15 of the upper piston at these periods in the cycle of operations of the engine. On the fourth stroke or last upward stroke of the main piston 2 the pressure that is created in the cylinder causes the upper piston A to move upwardly and thus carry the, expansion valve B out of operative positionwith relation to the exhaust port 6, thus permitting the burnt gases to escape through said exhaust port into the exhaust manifold 6". The cams l3 and 14 are so designed that they permit the upper piston A to move upwardly on this stroke of the main operating piston 2 just far enough to uncover the exhaust port 6 but not far enough to move the expansion valve B out of operative position with relation to the intake port 5. Consequently, there is no danger of the burnt gases escaping through the intake port 5 on the scavenging stroke of the main operating piston 2 because said intake port 5 is closed at this time by the expansion valve B which is pressed tightly against the inner wall of the cylinder. Beforethe main piston 2 starts downwardly again on its suction stroke, the upper piston A is moved downwardly far enough by the cams 13 to bring the valve B into operative position with relation to the intake port and exhaust port and thus close said ports so that there will be no danger of the burnt gases being sucked. back into the cylinder.

From the foregoing it will be sen that the v valve 18 is moved automatically by the suction and pressure created in the cylinder to open the ports, and that itis actuated mechanically when it is moved to close the intake port and exhaust port. Consequently less power is consumed in operating the valves of such an engine than an internal combustion engine in which the valves are opened by mechanical means or by some moving part of the engine that exerts pressure on the valve-operating mechanism. In other words, my engine-is so designed that the valves are opened automatically by the suction in the cylinders to draw the charges of combustible gas into the cylinders, and are opened automatically by the pressure created in the cylinders to permit the burnt gases to escape therefrom, the only mechanical actuation of the valves being the closing of the valves and this being eflected by cams that have a rolling contact with the upper piston A, and which are so designed that they hold said upper piston at rest while, the charge is being compressed and tired, thereafter permit said piston to be moved upwardly by. the pressure exerted against the im erforate bottom'wall thereof so as to permit the burnt gases to escape, and finally permit the piston to be moved downwardly by the suction. created on the suction stroke of the main piston so as to permit the gas to be drawn into the cylinders.

In view of the fact that the expansion valve B is located close to the upper limit of' travel of the main piston 2, the oil which the piston 2 throws upwardly onto the walls of the cylinder will thoroughly lubricate the valve B and the. surface of thecylinderon which said valve slides. In other words, the upward stroke of the main piston 2 causes 011 to be thrown upwardly onto the side walls of the cylinder about one-half to fiveeighths of an inch above the piston 2 when it is at the upper end of its stroke and consequentl a thin film of oil will always be rovide on the side walls of the cylinder or the valve to slide in. If desired, oil grooves 33 can be formed in the walls of the cylinder in proximity to the intake and exhaust ports so as to retain some of the oil and thus distribute it over the outer surface of the expansion valve B which slides back and forth over the inner-surface of the cylinder. Some suitable means, not shown, is u employed for supplying oil to the hollow up: u per piston A so as to lubricate the rollers andcams forming part of the mechanism that controls or governs the position of said upper piston, Fig. 2 showing the upper piston A as being partially filled with oil so that the rotary movement of the rollers 9 and the reciprocatin movement of the piston A will cause t e oil to be splashed up over the cams 13 and 14 and thus lubri I cate said cams, rollers, and the yoke 15. In

the engine herein shown a separate cam shaft 12 is provided for each pair of cylinders, and bearings 20 for said shaft are set in notches or recesses in the upper ends of the cylinders 1, the cylinders being so proportioned that the upper sides of said bearlugs 20" will extend flush with the upper edges of the cylinders. The bearings 20 preferably project laterally into the path of movement of the upper piston A, and slots are formed in said piston to receive said bearings, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, the bearings 20 thus acting to guide the upper piston and prevent it from rotating. Caps or covers 21 rest upon the upper edges of the cylinders and are secured in position by bolts or other suitable fastening devices so as to completely incase the cams and rollers of the valve mechanism and also 126 clamp the bearings 20 of the cam shafts in position. Where separate cam shafts are provided for each air of cylinders, as here- 111 shown, said sha s will, of course, be connected together by some suitable means so be extended downwardly,

that meshes with a spiral gear 26 on t e cam shaft 12, as shown in broken lines in Figs. 4 and 5 and partly in full lines in Fig. 1. A

housing 27 of any suitable type is provided a for incasing the shaft 24 and t e spiral gears just described. If desired, the vertically disposed shaft 24 may be provided with a gear 28 that meshes with a ear 29 on a horizontal shaft 30 which drlves the magneto M aml'the pum P that forces water through the water'jadliets of the cylinders. If desired, this vertically disposed shaft 27 may as shown in broken lines in Figs. 4 and 5, so as to operate a pump, not shown, which forces the oil in the bottom of-the crank case W to any part of the engine which it is desired to lubricate. -In order to prevent excessive pressure from being created on the upper side of the top piston Aor between said piston and the cap 21 which is mounted on the upper end of the cylinder, I have provided each cylinder with a suction passageway or conduit 31 that establishes communication between the space above the piston A and a suction-producing device which may be a pump or the gas manifold 5 that communicates with the cylinder. By eliminating pressure on the upper side of the piston A in this manner I prevent the oil In said upper piston from being forced out through the bearingsof the cam shaft 12 or between the outer surface of said piston A and the inner surface of the cylinder and consequently I am able to maintain an oil level in the piston A. And still another advantage of the conduit or passage way 31 is that it creates a partial vacuum on the upper side of the piston A or exerts aslight suction on the upper side of the piston A when the main piston 2 moves downwardly on its suction'stroke and thus re duces the pressure on the cross-piece 15 with which the cam 14 coiiperates. In other words. the suction that is createdon the u per side of the piston tends to retard the downward movement of said piston and thus prevents excessive strains from being laced upon the cross-piece or'yoke 15 of t e top piston A, it being, of course, understood that the suction that is created above the piston is so much less than the suction created on the under side of the piston that it does not prevent the piston frommoving downwardly on the suction stroke of the main iston 2 so as, to automaticall open the i et port 5. Preferably, a chec valve 32 'is arranged in 'the assageway 31 so as to eliminate the possibi ity of gas being sucked up through said passageway into the space above the top piston A.

While I have herein stated that the ex ansion valves B which control the flow 0 the gases into and out of the cylinders are preferably cast integral with the upper pistons A, I do not wish it to be understood that my broad idea is limited to such a construction for the same results could be accomplished with split spring expansion rings or numerous other kinds of expansion valves of substantially ring-shape arranged in such a manner that they will reciprocate up and down with the pistons A in the upper ends of the cylinders.

An engine of the construction above described can be manufactured at a low cost because the bore or internal diameter of the cylinder 1 is uniform or constant throughout its entire length; because the cams 13 and 14 which form part of the valve mechanism are external cams, as distinguished from internal cams or cams consisting of blocks of metal in which irregular grooves are formed; and'becauseit is not necessary to -fit the valves B accurately to the cylinders so as to provide for expansion and contraction of the metal, this. of course, being due to the fact that the valves B are expansible. Furthernmre, such an engine can be taken down quickly and easily for adjustment or repair, and as means is provided for taking up lost motion or wear between the top piston A and its controlling mechanism, the valves can be adjusted accurately with relation to their coiiperating ports.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettcrs' Patent is:

1. A four-cycle internal combustion engine provided with valves-and a valve-actuating member that is operated by the'suction and pressure in the cylinders to automatically open the intake ports and exhaust ports. respectively, and means that positively moves said valve-actuating member to close said ports.

2. four-cycle internal combustion engine provided with valves and a valve-operating member that is moved automatically by the suction and pressure in the cylinders to open the intake ports and exhaust ports, respectively, and means that positively moves'said member so as to cause the valves to close said ports, said means also operating to hold the valves at rest and in position to close both the intake and exhaust ports on the compression and power strokes of the pistons. a

' 3. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder provided with an intake port and with an exhaust port, an expansion. valve arranged in said cylinder for controlling the inlet and exhaust of the gases to and from said cylinder, means whereby the suction and pressure created in the cylinder on the suction and scavenging strokes, respectively, of the piston .causes said valve to move automatically to open said ports, and meansfor moving said valve to close said ports at the proper periods in the cycle of operations of the en he i. A four-cycle internal coni ustion engine comprising a cylinder provided with an intakeport and with an exhaust port, an expansion valve arranged in said cylinder for controllin the inlet and exhaust of the gases to an from said cylinder, means whereby the suction and pressure created in the cylinder on the suction and scavenging strokes, respectively, of the piston causes said valve to move automatically to open said ports, and means. which limits the opening movement ol said valve and also holds the valve in cotiperative position with both portson the compression and power strokes oil the piston.

5; A four-cycle internal combustion engins comprising a'cylinder provided withintake and exhaust ports, a ring-shaped expansion valve reciprocatingly nnnmted inside of the cylinder ior controlling the inlet and erhaust of the gases to and from the cylinder, means whereby the suction and pressure created in the cylinder on the suction and scavenging strokes, respectively,.ol the piston causes said valve to move automatically to open said ports, and means for positively moving said valve to close said ports alter the burnt charge; has heen enpelled from the cylinder.

ti. A tour-cycle internal combustion engins compr sing a cylinder provided with intalte exhaust ports, a ring-shaped expansion valve reciprocatingly mounted inside of the cylinder "tor controlling the inlet and exhaust oi the gases to and ilrom the cylinder, means whereby the suction and pressure created in the cylinder on the suction and scavenging strokes, respectively, or the piston causes said valve to move automatically to open said ports," and means which liz its the movement of said valve and holds the valve in position to close hath ports while the charge is heing compressed, tired and expanded.

i. it iour-cycle internal comhustion encompidsing a cylinder provided with re exhaust ports, a main piston in cylinder, a separate piston reciprocat lngly mounted in the upper portion oi the tar per cylinder and. provided with an impcrlorate wall that forms the top of the compression space oil the cylindenmeans carried by said upper piston that cooperates with said ports controlling the inlet and exhaust oi the toand them the cylinder, and means mitting said upper piston to move downwardly far enough on the suction stroke of the main piston to permit a charge to enter the cylinder through the intake port and for permitting. said upper piston to move upwardly far enough on the scavengmg stroke of the main piston to permit the burnt gases to escape from the cylinder.

8. A four-cyclev internal combustion engme comprising a cylinder provided with intake and exhaust ports, a main piston in said cylinder, a separate piston reciprocatingly mounted in the upper portion of the cylinder and provided with an imperforate wall that forms the top of the compression space of the cylinder, means carried by said upper piston that coiiperates with said ports for controlling the inlet and exhaust of the gases to and from the cylinder, means for permitting said upper piston to move downwardly far enough on the suction stroke of the main piston to ermit a charge to enter the cylinder through the intake port and for permitting said upper-piston to move u wardly far enough on the scavenging stro e of the main piston to ermit the hurnt gases to escape from the cylindenand means for limiting the movement oil said upper piston when it is sucked downwardly on the suction stroke of the main piston and moved u wardly on the scavenging stroke of said main piston and also tor holding said upper piston in such a position on the compression and power strokes of the main piston that both the intake and exhaust ports are closed.

9. A flour-cycle internal combustion engine comprisinu a stationary cylinder provided with inta e and exhaust-ports, a main piston arranged in said cylinder, a separate piston reciprocatingly mounted in the upper portion oil the cylinder and having an impertorate bottom that terms the top wall of the compression space of the cylinder, a valve means carried by said upper piston for controlling the inlet and exhaust of the gases through hoth of said ports, and controlling means tor said upper PlSlZOi'i which holds said valve means in position to close tooth the intake and exhaust ports on the ltltl ion said controlling means also acting to positively move said piston so to close the ports alter the piston has heen moved automatically hy the suction and pressure created in the cylinder on the suction and scavenging strokes oil the main piston, respectively.

10; A lonr cycle internal comhustion engine comprising a cylinder having intalre and exhaust ports termed in the walls thereoi", a main piston arranged in said cylinder, an expansion valve arranged in said cylinder and cooperating with said ports for controlling the inlet and exhaust oil the gases to and from the cylinder, a reciprocating carr er for said valve arranged in the upper portion of the cylinder and having an imperloratelhtl llhli lilo portion that forms the top wall of the compression space, and a controlling and actuating mechanism for said valve carrier arranged above same for moving said carrier positively in opposite directions, said mechanism also holding the carrier at rest on the compression and power strokes-of the main piston.

1-1. An internal combustion engine having inlet and exhaust ports formed in the walls of the cylinder at opposite sides of same through which the gases enter and escape from" the'cylindcr, a valve recipro'catingly mounted inside of said cylinder-and cooperating with hothot' said ports for controlling the inlet and exhaust of the gases, and a controlling and actuating mechanism for said valve arranged above same and comprising scam for positively moving the valve in one direction, a separate cam for positively moving the valve in the opposite direction, and a horizontally disposed shaft that inovessaicl cams and which prevents the valve from rotating in the cylinder.

12. An internal combustion engine having inlet and exhaust ports formed in the walls of the cylinder at opposite sides of same through which the gases enter and escape from the cylinder, a valve reciprocatingly mounted inside of said cylinder and cotiperatin with both of said ports for controlling the inlet and exhaust oi the gases, a piston carrier for said valve rcciprocatingly mounted in the upper portion of the cylinder which is the same bore as the lower portion of the cylinder, piston rings on said carrier, said carrier having an imperiorate portion that forms the top wall of the compression space, and a controlling and actuating mechanism for said carrier arranged above same and comprising eamsjthat move said carrier posi tiveiy in opposite directions so as to cutoff the inlet and exhaust of the gases.

13. An internal combustion on no having inlet and exhaust ports formed in the walls of the cylinder through which the gases entor and escape irons the cylinder, a valve reciprocatingiy mounted inside of said cylinder and cooperating with both of said ports for controlling the inlet and exhaust of the gases, a carrier for said valve reciprocatingly mounted in the upper portion or the cylinder, a yolre on said carrier, and a cam shaftascending transversely across the upper end or the cylinder. through slots in the valvecarrier and provided with cams that are arran ed between said carrier and yoke for controlling the position oi the carrier.

Ti l. A iourcycle internal combustion engins comprising cylinder having intake and exhaust ports formed in the walls thereof, a reciprocating carrier arranged in the upper portion of said cylinder and provided with means that cooperates with said ports for controlling the inlet and exhaust of the gases to and from the cylinder, a shaft extendin transversely across the upper end of the cy inder and provided with cams that govern the movement of said carrier and hold it in such a position on the compression and power strokes that both ports are closed,

said carrier having vertically disposed openings through which said cam shaft passes, whereby said carrier is prevented from rotating, and means for enabling said carrier to be adjusted with relation to said cams.

"-15. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports formed in the walls thereof, a valve means arranged inside of said cylinder for controlling the iiow of the gases through said ports, a reciprocating carrier for said valve means arranged in the upper portion of said eylinder and provided with a yoke or cross-piece, and a horizontal shaft assing through said yoke and provided \viti cams that cooperate with the yoke and with the carrier for moving the carrier and governing the position of same, said carrier being so constructed that said shaft passes through same and thus prevents the carrier from rotating.

16. in a four-cycle internal combustion engine, a reciprocating valve carrier arranged in the upper portion of the cylinder of the engine and provided with a yoke or cross-piece, a horizontal shaft passing through said fvoke and provided with cams that cooperate with the yoke and with the carrier for moving the carrier and governing the position of same, means for enabling said yoke to be adjusted with relation to said carrier, and anti-iriction rollc s on said carrier that cooperate with some of said cams. 1

1?. in a fourrycle internal combustion engine, a reciprocaling valve carrier arranged in the upper portion of the cylinder f the engine and provided with a yoke or cross-piece, a horizontal shaft passing through said yoke and provided with cams that coiiperate with the yoke and with the carrier for moving the carrier and governing the position of same, and a wear plate on the under side of said yoke that coiiperates with one-oi said cams, one end of said wear plate being fixed oz; secured and the opposite end being free so that it can move slightly and thus automatically take up the wear on said cam or yoke.

18. A four-cycle internal combustion cugine comprising a cylinder having intake and exhaust ports formed in the walls thereof, a reciprocating piston arranged in the upper end oi iid cylinder so as to form the top wall of the compression space and provided with an expansihle valve means that cooperates with said ports to control the inlet and exhaust of the gases to and from the cylinder, and means whereby said valve means moves to open said inlet and exhaust ports on the suction and scavenging strokes of the piston and to close said ports on the compression and power strokes of the piston, said valve means and ports being arranged in theupper end of said cylinder,

and a split-ring expansion valve carried by said piston and cooperating with both of said ports forcontrolling the inlet and exhaust of the gases, said valve being integrally connected to said piston at one point by neans of a web.

20. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder that has inlet and exhaust ports formed in the walls thereof, and a reciprocating piston arranged in theupper end of said cylinder and provided with an integral depending ring-shaped flange that cooperates with said ports to control the inlet and exhaust of the gases, said llange being divided into'two sections and separated from said piston at one point by means of a semi-circular-shaped slot.

21; A fonr-cycle internal combustion engine comprising a stationary cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a reciprocating piston arranged in the upper portion of.

said cylinder and provided with means that cooperates with both of said ports to control the inlet and exhaust of the gases, a chamber or pocket on the upper side of said piston for holding a lubricating medium, and cams arranged in said chamber above said piston that actuate and control the piston.

29. An internal combustion engine having an open-ended cylinder which is"protitled in its walls with inlet and exhaust ports, a main piston arranged in the lower portion said cylinder, a separate piston arranged in the upper portion oil said cylinprerenting excessive pressure from losing treated in the space between the upper side or said upper piston and said cap,

Bi-l. in internal combustion engine having an open-ended cylinder which is provided in its walls with inlet and exhaust ports, a main piston arranged in the lower portion of said cylinder, a separate piston arranged in the upper portion oil said cvlinder and provided with means that cooper ates with said inlet and exhaust ports for controlling the inlet, andlexhaust of the gases, a cap or cover arranged over the upper end of said cylinder, a controlling and actuating mechanism for. said upper piston arranged above same, and means for exerting suction on the upper side of said upper piston so as to retard the downward movement of same on the suctionstroke of the main piston in the lower portion of the cylinder.

24. An internal combustion engine havin an open-ended cylinder which-is provi ed in its, walls with inlet and exhaust ports, a main piston arranged in'the lower portion of said cylinder, a separate piston arranged in the upper portion of said cylinder and provided with means that cooperates with said inlet and exhaust ports for controlling the inlet and exhaust of the gases, a cap or'cover arranged over the upper end of said cylinder, a controlling and actuating mechanism for said upper piston. arranged above same, and a con nit or passageway that establishes communication between a suction-producing means and the space between said upper piston and ca 25. in internal combustion engine having an open-ended c linder which is provided in its walls with in ct and exhaust ports, a main piston arranged in the lowerportion oil said cylinder, aseparate iston arranged in the upper portion ot said cylinder and provided -with means that cooperates with said inlet and exhaust ports for controlling the inlet and exhaust of the gases, a cap or cover arranged over the upper end oi said cylinder, a controlling and actuating mechanism for said upper piston arranged above same, a suction passageway leading lroin the gas inlet manifold to the space between said upper piston and cap, and a check-valve in said suction passageway,

26. A four-cycle internal combustion en gine comprising a cylinder having oppositely disposed semicircular-shaped slots stormed in the walls thereof and located in different horizontal planes to form inlet'and exhaust ports, a ring-shaped expansion valve reciprocatingly mounted in said cylinder and cooperating with hoth of said ports to control the inlet and exhaust of the gases, and means whereby said. valve is rooted downwardly automatically lay the suction in the cylinder on the suction stroke so as to uncover the inlet port, thereafter upwardly by a positively acting means so as to cover both oil said ports on the compression and power strokes and upwardly still further by the pressure in the cylinder on the scavenging stroke to permit the burnt gases to escape from the exhaust port.

2?. d. tour-cycle internal cornloustion engine comprising a cylinder having inlet and too ldll

exhaust ports formed in the walls thereof, a main piston arranged in said cylinder, a separate iston arranged in the u per portion of t e cylinder, an 'expansi le valve means on said upper piston that cooperates with both of said ports to control the inlet and exhaust of the gases, a pocket or chamher in said upper piston for holding a lubricating medium, a cam shaft arranged above said upper piston and provided with cams that actuate and control the movement of said upper piston, a cap or cover that incloses said upper piston and cams, and a suction pipe that, communicateswith the space above said upper piston.

28. A four-cycle internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports formed in the walls thereof, a head or closure for the upper end of said cylinder, a main piston arranged in the lower part of the cylinder, a separate piston arranged in the upper portion of the cylinder, means carried by said upner piston and cooperating with said ports for controlling the flow of the gases into and out of the cylinder, means arranged in the space above said upper piston for controlling the movement of said piston, and a suctionpassageway that communicates with the space above said upper piston. j

29. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having intake and exhaust ports termed. in the side walls thereof, a main piston in said cylinder, and a reciprocating valve coiiperatin with said orts and arranged inside of said cylinder in such a manner that it partially overlaps the stroke of the piston, thereby causing the surfaces of the cylinder on which said valve slides to be lubricated by the upward stroke of the p r'i' n An internal combustion engine comprising? a cylinder having intake and exhaust ports former}. the side walls thereof, a reciprocating expansion valve inside oi said cylinder that cooperates with said ports, and oil grooves formed in the inner surface of said cylinder for lubricating valve.

3i. In an internsi combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder, piston and freely enpansible controlling valve presseo to its seat by the nressure the cylinder, of compensating devices subject to t e internal pressure in the cylinder and connected to the controlling valve to move the same against'tbe resistance created by the internal pressure.

32. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder, piston, freely expansible controlling valve pressed to its seat by the internal pressure in the cylinder and actuating devices therefor, of compensating devices subject to the internal pressure in the cylinder and "connected to the controlling valve to assist in the movement thereof against the resistance created by the internal pressure.

33. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder, piston and freely expansiblc controlling valve pressed to its seat by the internal pressure in the cylinder, of a secondary piston subject to the internal pressure inthe cylinder and connectcd to the controlling valve to move the same against the resistance created by the internal pressure.

3-1. in an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder, piston and expausible sleeve-like valve subject internally to the internal. pressure in the cylinder and pressed to its seat thereby, of componsating devices also subject to the internal pressure in the cylinder and connected to the valve to move the same against the resistance created by the internal prcssurc.

35. in an internal combustion engine, the combination with the cylinder, piston and cxpausiblc sleeve-like controlling; valve subiect internally to the internal pressure in the cylinder and pressed to its seat thereby, and actuating means therefor, of compensating devices also subject to the internal pressure in the cylinder and connected to the valve to assist the actuating devices in tho movement thereof against the resistance created by the internal pressure.

' in testimony u'hcrcof l hereunto aliix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this fifteenth day of April, 191:2.

iVlliLliiM C. CARTER.

Witnesses linens ii. Yunnan, Gnome BAKEWELL. 

